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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesCytopathology Screening ProceduresCPT cpt-88152-cervical-vaginal-cytopathology-computer-assisted-rescreen
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    CPT 88152: Cervical/Vaginal Cytopathology Manual Technical with Computer-Assisted Rescreening

    CPT code 88152 describes a service where a laboratory analyst performs the technical component of a manual cervical or vaginal cytopathology slide evaluation and then rescreens the same slide using computer-assisted review under a physician’s supervision; service type: cytopathology technical and computer-assisted rescreening, typical site of service: clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: General Inflammation Testing, Urine Culture Testing for Bacteria, Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old woman presents for routine cervical cancer screening. A clinician collects a cervical cytology specimen (Pap test) during a preventive visit or a follow-up exam for prior abnormal screening. The specimen is processed in the cytology laboratory where a cytotechnologist or lab analyst performs a manual microscopic evaluation of the cervical or vaginal cytology slide to identify epithelial abnormalities, infectious organisms, or reactive changes. Following the manual technical review, the same slide is rescanned or re-reviewed using computer-assisted imaging or screening software to ensure lesions or abnormal cells are not missed. A supervising pathologist or cytopathologist provides medical oversight, reviews flagged or abnormal cases, and signs out results. Typical workflow steps: collection at an outpatient clinic or women's health center; transport to the cytology laboratory; accessioning and slide preparation; manual screening by the lab analyst (88152 technical component); computer-assisted rescreening; pathologist review for positives or atypical findings; report generation and communication to the ordering provider. Typical site of service: hospital outpatient laboratory, independent clinical laboratory, or outpatient women's health clinic with lab services. Typical patient scenario: asymptomatic screening, surveillance after prior abnormal cytology or positive human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, or evaluation of vaginal/cervical symptoms such as abnormal bleeding or discharge that warrant cytologic evaluation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), collected in preservative fluid, automated thin layer preparation; manual screening under physician supervisionAlternative or preceding method when liquid-based cytology with manual screening is performed; may be performed prior to or instead of computer-assisted rescreening
    88142Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), collected in preservative fluid, automated thin layer preparation; automated screening, without manual reviewRelated automated screening approach; represents a workflow that may substitute for or complement 88152 when no manual plus computer-assisted rescreening is performed
    88164Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), automated screening and rescreening, with manual review as requiredRepresents automated screening with additional rescreening steps; may be used when automated systems perform primary and rescreening functions along with manual review
    88175Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), cytotechnologist screening under physician supervision; training/qualification codesRepresents cytotechnologist-performed screening services under supervision and may be used in workflows where screening responsibilities differ from 88152
    88185Cytopathology supervision and interpretation with review of direct smears or preparatory material; pathologist interpretive servicePerformed when a pathologist provides the interpretation component associated with abnormal or suspicious cytology following the technical screening in 88152

    Related Modifiers

    5 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    57CPT® modifier -57 (“Decision for Surgery”) is appended to an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service when that encounter results in the initial decision to perform a major surgery (a procedure with a…- Use modifier 57 when an E/M service provided by the same provider (or same tax ID) on the day of or the day before a major surgical procedure (90‑day global period) results in the initial decision…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    246QC2700X
    323P00000X
    261QA0005X
    2080I0007X
    2083T0002X
    103TC2200X
    363LP0200X
    246RP1900X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Laboratory/Pathology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    General Inflammation TestingOscar Health2027-01-01
    Urine Culture Testing for BacteriaOscar Health2027-01-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2027-01-01
    Policy Regarding Outpatient Definitive Drug TestingMolina Healthcare2027-01-01
    Serum Testing for Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryHealthfirst2026-11-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Serum Iron StudiesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Prothrombin Time (PT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)Providence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Respiratory Viral PanelsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-88141-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 88141: Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Interpretation

    CPT-88142-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-MANUAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88142: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT-88143-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-MANUAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88143: Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology, Automated Prep with Manual Screening

    CPT-88147-AUTOMATED-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SCREENING

    CPT 88147: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screening, Technical

    CPT-88148-CYTOPATHOLOGY-AUTOMATED-SCREEN-MANUAL-RESCREEN

    CPT 88148: Automated Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screen with Manual Rescreening

    CPT-88150-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SLIDE-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88150: Manual Cervical or Vaginal Cytopathology Technical Analysis

    CPT-88153-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-MANUAL-RESCREENING

    CPT 88153: Manual Rescreen of Cervical or Vaginal Cytology Slide

    CPT-88155-CERVICOVAGINAL-CYTOPATHOLOGY-HORMONE-EVALUATION

    CPT 88155: Cervicovaginal Cytopathology Hormone Evaluation

    CPT-88160-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-ANALYSIS

    CPT 88160: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Interpretation

    CPT-88161-CYTOPATHOLOGY-SMEAR-TECHNICAL-SCREENING

    CPT 88161: Cytopathology Smear Screening and Technical Analysis

    Showing 1–10 of 15

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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